Resources
Bakalar,Nicolas. “Flamingo Mating Rules: 1. Learn the Funky Chicken.” The New York Times, November 28, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/science/flamingos-dancing- sexualdisplay.html#:~:text=They%20bend%20forward%2C%20sticking%20their,search%20of%20a%20compatible%20partner. Article that focuses on the mating dance of flamingos. Includes information on how partners are selected. Confirms that both male and female flamingos dance together which does not align to all bird species.
Benyus, Janine M. Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature. New York, NY: Perennial, 2009. Interesting book focused on finding what nature does better than humans. Insights offered into how we could improve things from farming, energy, constructing things, and healing.
Bittel, Jason, and Kelsey Buzzell. How to talk to a tiger: And other animals. New York, NY: Abrams, 2021. Very wordy for straight through read aloud to student in kindergarten, but a wealth of examples of how animals communicate. Methods include, vocalizations, the message sent by colorization, body language, to name a few. Many examples that can be shared with class.
“Bonobo.” WWF. Accessed July 15, 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/bonobo. General information about bonobos.
Butterfield, Moira, and Claudia Boldt. Dance like a Flamingo. London: Welbeck Editions, 2021. A fun book which presents opportunities for movement breaks in which students will mimic the movements of animals.
“Can a Dog Have ADHD? Symptoms, Causes, Breeds & Treatment.” 24Petwatch. Accessed July 16, 2023. https://www.24petwatch.com/blog/can-a-dog-have-adhd--symptoms--causes--breeds---treatment#:~:text=But%20can%20dogs%20have%20ADHD,rare%20condition%20known%20as%20Hyperkinesis. Information related to dogs and ADHD-like symptoms.
Combs, Carolyn, and Cathy Morrison. What’s this tail saying? Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publications, 2020. A picture book for use in the classroom. Provides examples of vocalizations and mechanical sounds that animals use to communicate and also the use of body language in animal communication.
Dutcher, Jim, Jamie Dutcher, and James Manfull. The wisdom of wolves: Lessons from the sawtooth pack. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2021. This book explores the social interactions among member of the Sawtooth wolf pack. Many possible connections to strengthening a classroom culture.
“Elephant.” WWF. Accessed July 15, 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant#:~:text=Led%20by%20a%20matriarch%2C%20elephants,the%20longest%20of%20any%20mammal. Background information on elephants. The site also focuses on the importance of the species to its ecosystem and threats to these animals.
“Gorilla.” WWF. Accessed July 15, 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/gorilla. General information on gorillas.
“Greater Flamingo.” Greater Flamingo - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio. Accessed July 14, 2023. https://animalia.bio/greater-flamingo. Background information on the greater flamingo. Includes information on physiology, diet, habitat, and behaviors including the courtship dance highlighted in the unit.
Greene, Patricia. “The 12 Types of Skunks (Facts & Info).” Wildlife Informer, March 21, 2023. https://wildlifeinformer.com/types-of-skunks/. Provides general information on each of the different species of skunk.
Hamilton, Jon. “Some Generous Apes May Help Explain the Evolution of Human Kindness.” NPR, March 20, 2021. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/03/20/978868116/some-generous-apes-may-help-explain-the-evolution-of-human-kindness#:~:text=What%20all%20the%20science%20suggests,a%20good%20day%2C%20Andr%C3%A9%20says. Pretty amazing report of studies tying bonobos to sharing and kindness.
“How Do Wolves Communicate?: International Wolf Center.” International Wolf Center | Teaching the World about Wolves., April 25, 2023. https://wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-behavior/communication/. This article breaks down the many ways the wolves communicate.
“The importance of motivation, weapons, and foul odors” - JSTOR. Accessed July 15, 2023. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/43967165.pdf. Research data on meetings between predators of a shared ecosystem. Including the potency of the skunks defensive spray.
Jabr, Ferris. “The Science Is in: Elephants Are Even Smarter than We Realized [Video].” Scientific American, February 26, 2014. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-science-is-in-elephants-are-even-smarter-than-we-realized-video/. As the title alludes to, this article provides examples of elephant intelligence.
Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Braiding Sweetgrass. Vancouver, B.C.: Langara College, 2022. Offers a different viewpoint on the natural world. Focus on the differences between the European/Colonial view of the world the the indigenous perspective on nature and humanities place in the world. Insightful and eye opening.
Kjørstad, Elise. “Wolf Packs Don’t Actually Have Alpha Males and Alpha Females, the Idea Is Based on a Misunderstanding.” Sciencenorway, November 22, 2021. https://sciencenorway.no/ulv/wolf-packs-dont-actually-have-alpha-males-and-alpha-females-the-idea-is-based-on-a-misunderstanding/1850514. Deals with historical views on the wolf pack hierarchy which was based on only captive wolves. Also shares about pack hierarchy with wolves in the wild which has changed traditional ides of wolves. Good Information. Easy to comprehend.
“Living with Wildlife: Skunks.” Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Accessed July 14, 2023. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/skunks#facts. Good information on skunks specifically related to living in proximity to the animals.
Magazine, Smithsonian. “Ask Smithsonian: What Makes Skunk Spray Smell so Terrible?” Smithsonian.com, June 11, 2015. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian-what-makes-skunk-spray-smell-so-terrible-180955553/#:~:text=Skunk%20spray%20is%20a%20thiol,thiol%20its%20gag%2Dinducing%20power. Information on skunk spray.
McQuay, Bill, and Christopher Joyce. “To Decode Elephant Conversation, You Must Feel The Jungle Rumble.” NPR, August 20, 2015. https://www.npr.org/2015/08/20/432616506/to-decode-elephant-conversation-you-must-feel-the-jungle-rumble#:~:text=The%20deepest%20rumbling%20is%20different,by%20the%20mouth%20and%20trunk. Easily digestible information on the rumbling communications produced by elephants.
Natterson-Horowitz, Barbara, and Kathryn Bowers. Zoobiquity what animals can teach us about being human. London: Virgin Books, 2012. Excellent book that is very much rooted in the concept of 'One Health'. It inspired my thinking about the connections between nature and kindergarten students.
“One Health Basics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 8, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/basics/index.html. Definition and overview of the One Health concept. Short easy to read and digestible.
O’Connell, Caitlin. Wild rituals: 10 lessons animals can teach us about connection, community, and ourselves. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Prism, 2021. Excellent resource that explores several species of animal and the rituals that they engage in that help them interact with other animals within their community.
Preston, Elizabeth. “Killer Whales Cooperate for a Meal.” Discover Magazine, November 5, 2019. https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/killer-whales-cooperate-for-a-meal. Details how orcas cooperate to hunt prey in an innovative way called wave washing.
“Rattlesnakes.” National Wildlife Federation. Accessed July 15, 2023. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Rattlesnakes. General information about rattlesnakes.
Salyer, Hannah. Packs: Strength in numbers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. Excellent read aloud material for use in class. Offers several examples of animals that thrive by living in communities, as well as how strength in numbers can be advantageous.
“Skunk.” Animals. Accessed July 14, 2023. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/skunk. General information on skunks written in a way that would be easily digestible for children.
Stoeger, Angela S, Gunnar Heilmann, Matthias Zeppelzauer, André Ganswindt, Sean Hensman, and Benjamin D Charlton. “Visualizing Sound Emission of Elephant Vocalizations: Evidence for Two Rumble Production Types.” PloS one, 2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498347/. Technical research results of elephantine rumbling. Provides some information about vocalizations and their meanings.
“To Escape Skunks’ Retribution, Know Their Language.” Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1998. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-19-cl-44267-story.html. Useful information related to the body language of skunks and the meaning behind that body language.
“Tuskless Elephants Evolved to Escape Poachers.” Discovery. Accessed July 15, 2023. https://www.discovery.com/nature/tuskless-elephants-evolved-to-escape-poachers. Fascinating article that details a genetic mutation causing the birth of tuskless elephants in response to years of ivory poaching.
WOHLLEBEN, PETER. Secret wisdom of nature: Trees, animals, and the extraordinary balance of all living things -... stories from science and observation. S.l.: GREYSTONE BOOKS, 2022. Interesting reading focusing on the interconnectedness of flora and fauna and how changes to one species can impact others both positively and negatively.
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